Bids invited for additional trams

Companies have been invited to bid for the supply of ten new trams for Croydon’s Tramlink service in an extension of the service expected to be be funded by Transport for London and the London Borough of Croydon.

The new trams would be used to increase the frequency of services between central Croydon and Elmers End which TfL says is the busiest section of the Tramlink.

Howard Smith, Chief Operating Officer for TfL London Rail, Howard Smith said: “We are pleased to be working with the London Borough of Croydon to try and boost capacity on the London Tramlink network.

“With the number of journeys increasing by 45 per cent since it opened in 2000 we want to respond to the demand and ensure that London Tramlink continues to provide people in south London with a comfortable and efficient means of getting around.”

Croydon Council Leader Mike Fisher said: “Although we are still to take a final Cabinet decision on our contribution, we believe that there will be real support to get additional trams for Croydon to keep pace with growing demand for Tramlink services and also to secure major improvements for pedestrians and transport users around and between East and West Croydon stations.”

The bid invitation has been welcomed by the Light Rail Transit Association’s campaign arm TramForward.

Chairman Geoff Lusher said the group had “long held the view that additional capacity is needed on Tramlink to cater for the year-on-year increase in passenger numbers and congratulate Transport for London on this decision.”

Lusher called on Croydon Council “to confirm its welcome support for this much needed improvement.”